The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 857: The Bombing

The war began in March 1999.

A series of ethnic conflicts that began in the early 90s and have continued to this day erupted in an apocalyptic manner at the end of the 20th century.

After a series of diplomatic, military, and political conflicts, mediations, and further conflicts, the problem could not be resolved peacefully. NATO bypassed the United Nations and launched a large-scale air campaign against Kosovo on March 23.

The Kosovo War broke out.

The powerful NATO air force, led by the US military, carried out 24-hour non-stop high-intensity bombing of Yugoslavia, including military facilities and various important civilian facilities, and a modern country was bombed into a semi-paralyzed state in a short period of time.

Numerous casualties were reported, the city was razed to the ground, and the scene was devastated.

Unlike the Gulf War in 1991, when the entire United States was united in its hatred of the enemy and society as a whole believed that the actions of the US military were just, this air raid has sparked some controversy and confrontation.

Of course, overall, American society still supports war.

A significant characteristic of American society is its strong Puritan influence.

A key characteristic of the Puritans was that they believed they bore the mission of spreading God's morality and upholding world justice.

Therefore, the United States became the world's policeman after its victory in the Cold War, waging wars everywhere to maintain order. This was supported by its economic and military strength, but more importantly, it was due to its cultural genes—a penchant for meddling in other people's business.

By May, the bombing had entered its third phase, with NATO expanding its strike range to include numerous civilian facilities as targets.

Railways, highways, television stations, power plants, hospitals, and other infrastructure were subjected to massive bombing, paralyzing the city.

The expanded bombing range also led to more civilians being attacked, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many ordinary people.

The May 7th incident was not particularly noteworthy among the many bombing tragedies reported in the news, so it only appeared briefly in the news reports and in the corner of the newspaper.

Although the incident was extremely serious, it did not cause a major uproar because there were no casualties and both sides intended to downplay its impact.

Small-scale, sporadic protests occurred domestically, and some newspaper editorials condemned the bombing; otherwise, all parties remained silent.

However, it is said that there are undercurrents behind the incident. The embassy is extremely relieved, and key personnel have returned to China. Meanwhile, the United States is conducting a secret investigation into the matter.

During the playoffs, the Trail Blazers unexpectedly lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3. Gan Guoyang had a poor performance, possibly the worst playoff performance of his career.

This has greatly excited San Antonio fans, who seem to see signs of Forrest Gump's decline.

This is the Suns' King, when was the last time he didn't score 20 points in a game? I think it was back in the 80s?

On May 8th, the Trail Blazers remained in San Antonio for training, preparing for their fourth game.

During a media open session at the training phase, a reporter, eager to find out more, brought up the incident from May 7th and asked Gan Guoyang for his opinion on it.

Larry Bird warned Gan Guoyang early on to avoid getting involved in discussions about these kinds of events, and that silence or evasion was the best course of action.

But Gan Guoyang was not prepared to remain silent.

"The bombing was barbaric. Fortunately, none of our people were injured, which is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. However, many more unfortunate civilians died in the bombings, losing their lives and families. I don't know much about politics or military affairs, I don't know exactly why the war happened, and I can't comment. But I think that at this moment, Americans are peaceful and safe, able to sit in stadiums and enjoy exciting games. Instead of asking me these questions, you should ask Divac; I think he has more authority to speak on this than I do, and you should listen to his voice."

Divac certainly has more authority to speak than Gan Guoyang, because his family and friends are struggling to survive under the threat of death.

The bombing has continued for two months, and Divac's hometown of Prijeborye has been attacked 10 times. His cousin, a bus driver, lost his leg in the bombing.

His best friend has been missing for more than ten days, and he is very likely to have died in the bombing.

A bomb struck a bridge near Divac's home, and the blast shattered his parents' windows and furniture.

In less than two months, Divac lost 20 pounds, looking more like a sick patient than a strong center.

The Sacramento Kings were originally a strong contender for the playoffs this season. They acquired Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, who together cosplayed as the Trail Blazers' frontcourt, essentially a low-budget version of "Gan Guoyang + Sabonis".

As a result, they unfortunately lost to the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

Divac's consecutive low-post attacks in the final moments of the crucial game failed to find the net, ruining the team's efforts throughout the season.

But Divac did his best; he had lost a lot of weight and couldn't concentrate in the final moments of the game.

He even questioned whether he should stay in the United States, knowing that the country was attacking his homeland.

A large number of Americans sent malicious emails and messages to Divac, accusing her of supporting genocide.

But in fact, Divac never did that; his act of removing the Croatian flag continues to punish him to this day.

Divac still thinks of Petrovich. Since the air raids began, Divac has called Gan Guoyang every week, hoping to get some comfort from him.

Gan Guoyang gave Divac a lot of encouragement and help. He advised Divac not to return to his hometown for the time being, as he needed to take good care of his wife and children in the United States.

Divac has three children, the youngest of whom, Perat, was adopted. Her biological parents were killed by Kosovo forces while they were out shopping.

The footage and content of Gan Guoyang's interview were quickly broadcast in the media, causing considerable controversy.

In Texas, a state known for its hardline stance on military issues, the media immediately criticized Gan Guoyang's remarks.

"Through this statement, our fans and viewers should realize that Forrest Gump is not American; he is a foreigner, a Chinese!"

"It's incredible that people have been completely oblivious to the elephant in this room for the past decade or so!"

"What's the reason? Is it simply because he's the best basketball player on the planet?"

In response to these comments, The Oregonian stated, "Isn't it enough that Forrest Gump is the best basketball player on the planet? Should he be the best marksman on the planet instead?"

A heated war of words broke out between the two sides. There were already many people in Oregon who opposed the bombing of Kosovo, and now, with the NBA playoffs and the events of May 7th, the two sides were completely at odds.

On the evening of the 8th, Divac called Gan Guoyang again and said, "Thank you for speaking up for me, brother. The emails and messages you sent me were a bit milder in wording and contained fewer profanities."

"I know you've been through a lot, you've suffered so much these past few years. Try to be optimistic and don't give up on basketball. You played terribly in those last few games, man. Why didn't you pass to Webber?"

"Chris? To be honest, he's not even as good as me."

In the crucial fifth game, the Kings' strategy consistently revolved around Divac's low-post isolation plays, without attempting to give their star player Webber any offensive opportunities.

Divac scored crucial equalizers in a few attacks, but then he faltered.

The two chatted and laughed for a few more minutes. Divac would stay up until 2 a.m. every day to watch CNN news.

It was around 11 a.m. when the latest news from the front lines would arrive in his hometown.

"Don't forget, you'll be watching the Trail Blazers vs. Spurs game tomorrow. I'll do my best."

"From now on, I will shut up and say nothing. I will let my performance on the court speak for itself."

“You know what San Antonio is like. I’ll teach them a lesson.”

What is San Antonio?
It is a major military stronghold of the United States Air Force, and one of the twelve largest joint air force bases in the United States is permanently located here, where strategic bombers are deployed.

At the same time, Texans are martial, riding horses, herding cattle, and playing with guns. In every war the United States goes to, Texans are the most active in supporting and responding.

Therefore, the fourth match after the May 7th incident was of great significance to Gan Guoyang.

On May 9th, the fourth game between the two teams continued in San Antonio.

Before the match, when reporters asked Gan Guoyang about related issues again, Gan Guoyang no longer gave a direct response.

He simply said, "I will respond on the field. Keep your eyes open and be prepared."

In the locker room, Gan Guoyang relaxed his muscles. The atmosphere in the team was a little strange, not as relaxed and natural as before.

Sabonis came over and whispered to Gan Guoyang, "Sonny, I support your opinion. But with the others... they should keep a little... distance. I hope you understand."

After all, Gan Guoyang's remarks touched a nerve with some American patriots. Back then, Rauf was also criticized and isolated because of the flag incident.

Of the pioneers who once established Party branches, only Gan Guoyang and Sabonis remain as key members.

Bird came over to Gan Guoyang and said, "Sonny, I told you, don't talk about this. Just stay silent or brush it off."

Gan Guoyang said, "Larry, you said you would always stand by my side." "Of course I stand by your side. That's why I said that."

"Then I'll tell you, what do you suggest?"

"What to do? Of course, we'll beat the Spurs to a pulp! What else can we do? You son of a bitch!"

An hour later, the Trail Blazers came on to warm up, and when Gan Guoyang appeared on the court, the fans booed loudly.

Some fans held up placards with insulting language and pointed gun-shaped symbols at Gan Guoyang's portrait as a threat.

David Stern was in attendance tonight, sporting his signature faint smile as always.

But he felt terrible inside. Damn Forrest Gump, no, I should say damn the US Air Force, why did they have to bomb people for no reason?

Stern knew that, given Gan Guoyang's status, he was bound to speak out. He was a representative figure in the national sports world; how could he possibly shut him up?

However, understanding does not equate to support, and support does not mean unwavering support. David Stern had already considered the risks involved.

Moreover, he knew far more than the average person; in just one day, he had already heard some unpleasant rumors, and the matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

However, seeing Gan Guoyang's calm and composed demeanor during warm-up on the field, Stern had to admire the guy; his mental fortitude was truly outstanding.

It was as if nothing, not even death, could break him. Based on Stern's understanding of Forrest Gump, he suspected that Forrest Gump's biggest weakness might be his father, the old man who was already trapped in the maze of Alzheimer's memories.

He also has his wife and children, but it is said that Forrest Gump's wife is even tougher than Forrest Gump in some ways and does not need Forrest Gump's protection at all.

After the opening ceremony, the two sides jumped for the ball, and Gan Guoyang stood in the center circle.

Since Sabonis' return, Gan Guoyang hasn't stood in the center circle for the jump ball for a long time; he has been playing as a power forward or power forward.

Tonight, he stood in the center circle for the jump ball, which was clearly a signal.

David Robinson pursed his thick lips, a hint of wavering appearing in his eyes.

Because he saw a terrifying message in Forrest Gump's face—a harbinger of a massacre.

The atmosphere was tense and chilling; David Robinson had never had the courage to face such terror.

Long, long ago, he decided to give up excessive fighting and entrust his fate to God.

Despite being a former soldier, he was not a warmonger.

"Sonny, I'm sorry for the bombing," Robinson said before the jump ball.

He is a good man; he can distinguish right from wrong. In any case, bombing someone else's embassy without cause is ultimately barbaric and illegal.

"Thank you for understanding, David. You're a good person. I wasn't targeting you tonight, and I hope you can forgive me."

Robinson's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath, knowing it was inevitable. So be it!

Robinson still believed that the Spurs' defense wouldn't be so easily broken down by Forrest Gump. It probably wouldn't be so easy for Forrest Gump to go on a killing spree.
The game started with a jump ball, and Gan Guoyang won the ball first. Robinson immediately kept a close eye on Gan Guoyang, and he was on high alert from the very beginning.

Gan Guoyang's first touch of the ball was on the outside. Instead of attacking directly, he passed the ball to his teammates and started a methodical positional game.

Chris Mullin took a shot but missed, and the Spurs grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break, but missed again.

Both teams started slowly, and it wasn't until two minutes into the first quarter that Billups scored the Spurs' first basket.

The Trail Blazers' goal came a little later; it wasn't until the third minute that Gan Guoyang scored a two-pointer from the top of the arc.

The Trail Blazers didn't play very smoothly in the first quarter; they seemed to be jogging, warming up and gradually getting into the game.

Gan Guoyang made 2 of 4 shots in the first quarter, which was decent. David Robinson wondered if Gan was deliberately holding back his next move, or if the guy had really declined.
It's not impossible, after all, Forrest Gump is 35 years old, and his performance could decline suddenly without any reason.

However, the situation changed dramatically in the second quarter. Gan Guoyang made consecutive shots, and his face-up shots and catch-and-shoot shots after pick-and-rolls were almost always successful.

Gan Guoyang started to get into the game, and Popovich quickly called a timeout to try and disrupt Gan Guoyang's rhythm, but this tactic was not very effective.

After the timeout, Gan Guoyang began to increase his offensive rebounds and low-post attacks; in short, he just wanted to score.

After a few low-post attacks, Gan Guoyang immediately switched back to shooting mode, and his mid-range shot was simply unstoppable.

Two mid-range shots from the 45-degree angle and the top of the key were like knives stabbing the Spurs in the body and the hearts of San Antonio fans.

In the second quarter, Gan Guoyang made 8 of 10 shots, scoring 18 points in the quarter and 24 points at halftime, helping the Trail Blazers lead the Spurs by 11 points at halftime.

But this was clearly just the beginning; the third quarter was where Gan Guoyang truly took center stage.

Popovich's throat was hoarse from shouting while he was giving instructions on the defense at halftime.

Just before going on stage, Robinson whispered, "It's useless, it's completely useless."

Having found his rhythm in the first half, Gan Guoyang showed no mercy in the third quarter.

He presented a feast of mid-range shooting skills to the fans in the arena and to audiences across the United States.

Because Gan Guoyang excels in other areas, people often overlook the fact that he is an absolute master of mid-range shooting.

A guy with a free throw percentage higher than Jordan's and comparable to Miller's, plus excellent height and wingspan, giving him a significant advantage in mid-range shooting.

His mid-range shot has a high arc, quick release, is unaffected by interference, and includes various pre-shooting details, making it a visual feast.

The ball is curved, at a 45-degree angle, with two bottom corners. Gan Guoyang catches the ball and throws it in, and it goes in every time. He has reached a point where he can do whatever he wants.

Later on, some of his shooting motions became noticeably distorted, and he also used an inexplicable leg movement to maintain balance, yet he still managed to score.

This was a complete flow state. Popovich called three timeouts, but still couldn't stop the unstoppable barrage of shots.

24 points, 34 points, 44 points, 54 points!
Gan Guoyang scored 54 points in three quarters, including 30 points in a single quarter!
The Spurs have been completely crushed, and the Alamo Dome has fallen into a deep silence.

In the fourth quarter, Bird asked Gan Guoyang if he wanted to continue playing.

Gan Guoyang said, "The bombing has not stopped, the enemy has not surrendered, so of course I must continue to fight."

Therefore, Gan Guoyang came on in the fourth quarter and continued his relentless attack.

The Spurs, too, stubbornly refused to surrender and simply wouldn't substitute their key players.

And Forrest's teammates realized that he was about to make history.

The awkward and strange atmosphere in the locker room had long since disappeared.

Everyone was desperately trying to feed Gan Guoyang the ball and pass it to him.

Gan Guoyang was unstoppable in the fourth quarter, and no Spurs player dared to foul him.

64 points, 74 points!
The Spurs' defense completely collapsed, and David Robinson was disoriented and didn't know how to defend anymore.

With the help of his teammates, Gan Guoyang scored another 20 points in the fourth quarter, bringing his halftime total to 50 points and his total to 74 points, setting a new NBA playoff record for single-game scoring!

This is also the first time in NBA history that someone has scored 70 points in a single playoff game.

When the game ended, the massive Alamo Dome was completely empty, and the fans could not hide their disappointment.

Gan Guoyang raised his arms high, celebrating this scoring record that "celebrated" America's "birthday" with his teammates.

Popovich said dejectedly at the post-match press conference: "This is a disgrace, a disgrace."

Popovic himself is of Serbian descent, but he is also a former U.S. Air Force officer and supports the war effort.

Faced with Gan Guoyang's unilateral massacre, he insisted on not surrendering, which made the massacre particularly bloody.

74 points—a score that an opposing team might not have been able to achieve in a Spurs game in the past—has now been achieved by one player.

This mark will be forever etched in the Spurs' history, unforgettable for Popovich, and he will still feel terrified of mid-range shots many years later.

(End of this chapter)